# WeChat vs BatChat

The clearest difference is review sentiment: BatChat at 86% against WeChat's 32%. BatChat also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). WeChat's advantage is rating (3.9 vs 3.5) and ratings volume (81K vs 99). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. WeChat sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and BatChat sells 27 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

WeChat holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: WeChat has 81K ratings behind it against 99, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 32% of WeChat's written reviews are positive against 86% of BatChat's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

WeChat ships an update every 3 weeks, BatChat every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 13, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | WeChat | BatChat |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.9 (81K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wechat/id414478124/reviews)** | [3.5 (99 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/batchat-encrypted-messenger/id1661048017/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **81K** | 99 |
| Positive reviews | 31.6% of reviews | **86.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#21** | — |
| Size | 922 MB | 277 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [WeChat](https://appshunter.io/developer/614694882) | [ChengDu Ciyuan zhishi Technology Co., Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1661048019) |

## What reviewers say

### WeChat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wechat/id414478124)

**Currently charting:** #21 Top Free · Social Networking, #23 Top Grossing · Social Networking (US App Store)

Connect with friends and family through messaging, voice, and video calls. Discover news, local services, and games within the app. Features mobile payment and health tracking capabilities.

**Highlights:** Text, photo, voice, and video messaging, Group chats up to 500 members, High-quality voice and video calls, Real-time location sharing, Moments for sharing photos and videos, Official Accounts for news and content, Mini Programs for third-party services, Mobile payment with Weixin Pay

**Features:** Siri integration, Apple Wallet, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| WeChat Out Top-Up Card | $0.99 | one-time |
| 42 WeBeans | $0.99 | one-time |
| WeChat Out Top-Up Card | $1.99 | one-time |
| 126 WeBeans | $2.99 | one-time |
| WeChat Out Top-Up Card | $3.99 | one-time |
| 350 WeBeans | $6.99 | one-time |
| WeChat Out Top-Up Card | $9.99 | one-time |
| WeChat Out Top-Up Card | $14.99 | one-time |
| 896 WeBeans | $19.99 | one-time |
| 9086 WeBeans | $199.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great all-in-one app
- 👍 Convenient features like payments and mini-programs
- 💡 Useful translation and sharing functions
- 🔒 Secure and private

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Accounts getting blocked for no reason
- 🔒 Strict security measures and verification requirements
- 👎 Poor customer support and unresponsive to user issues
- 🔋 High storage and battery consumption
- 🤔 Censorship and monitoring concerns

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent app crashes and connectivity issues
- Syncing problems between devices
- Incompatibility with newer iOS versions
- Unreliable voice/video call quality

**Requested features**

- Add dark mode option
- Improve chat organization with folders and pinning
- Allow editing of posted content
- Provide better translation and language support
- Simplify account recovery and unblocking process


### BatChat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/batchat-encrypted-messenger/id1661048017)

This secure messaging app offers end-to-end encrypted communication for both personal and professional use. It features private chat modes, encrypted file storage, and high-definition calls, ensuring data security and privacy.

**Highlights:** End-to-end encryption, Private chat mode with screenshot alerts, Encrypted local file storage, Multimedia file transfer, HD encrypted voice and video calls, Multi-device synchronization, Virtual avatar creation

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (27)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1月的免广告服务 | $0.99 | one-time |
| 1个月靓号服务 | $1.99 | one-time |
| 200MB月容量套餐 | $3.99 | one-time |
| 50BF币 | $6.99 | one-time |
| 500MB月容量套餐 | $7.99 | one-time |
| 蝙蝠1个月VIP | $9.99 | one-time |
| 12个月聊天气泡 | $9.99 | one-time |
| 1024MB月容量套餐 | $12.99 | one-time |
| 1月自动签到服务 | $14.99 | one-time |
| 3个月VIP | $29.99 | one-time |
| 198Bat币 | $29.99 | one-time |
| 1年靓号服务 | $29.99 | one-time |
| 形象月卡 | $29.99 | one-time |
| 200M收藏容量 | $39.99 | one-time |
| 1个月群机器人 | $39.99 | one-time |
| 终身免广告服务 | $45.00 | one-time |
| 6个月VIP | $59.99 | one-time |
| 398Bat币 | $59.99 | one-time |
| 6个月的自动任务服务 | $69.99 | one-time |
| 588Bat币 | $79.99 | one-time |
| 500M收藏容量套餐 | $89.99 | one-time |
| 1年SVIP | $99.99 | one-time |
| 1年自动签到服务 | $129.99 | one-time |
| 3个月群机器人 | $129.99 | one-time |
| 1024M收藏容量 | $149.99 | one-time |
| 6个月群机器人 | $249.99 | one-time |
| 12个月群机器人 | $499.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🔒 Strong privacy and security
- 👍 Simple and clean interface
- 🚀 Fast and efficient performance
- 💡 Unique features like screenshot alerts and self-destructing messages
- 💬 Good for social interaction and making friends

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Login issues and network errors
- 🐛 App not working or crashing
- 🐛 Some users report it's a scam or phishing software
- 🐛 Paid features for encryption
- 🐛 Frequent ads for non-members

**Reported bugs**

- Cannot log in
- Network connection issues
- Cannot send messages
- App not opening
- Login registration fails for Chinese phone numbers

**Requested features**

- Adapt to landscape mode


## Frequently asked questions

### Is WeChat free?

WeChat is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is BatChat free?

BatChat is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, WeChat or BatChat?

WeChat is rated higher. WeChat averages 3.9 out of 5 from 81K ratings, while BatChat averages 3.5 from 99 ratings.

### Do WeChat or BatChat have ads?

WeChat shows ads; BatChat does not.

### Which is updated more often, WeChat or BatChat?

WeChat ships an update every 3 weeks, and BatChat every 2 weeks. Most recently, WeChat was updated on October 13, 2026 and BatChat on October 13, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*